Phineas and Snape (Was: Horcruxes, the Prophesy, where Dumbledore goes),

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 154131

Kemper now:
> It seems to be an expectation of the portraits which could be broken.
> But I think it would be Phineas who will be the first to spill.  And
> he won't even be asked a question.
> 
> Briefly,
> Kemper
>
Carol responds:
I agree that the portraits, and especially Phineas Nigellus, are
ideally placed to overhear key conversations, but it's not McGonagall
who'll benefit from his knowledge, IMO, it's Harry--who just happens
to own the other house where Phineas has a portrait.

Twice in HBP Phineas reprimands Harry for speaking disrespectfully of
Severus Snape. Why? Because, IMO, Phineas has heard doing everything
from Snape's change of sides to his reports of Harry's dreams
(revealed to Snape in the Occlumency lessons). The only key
conversations between DD and Snape that Phineas would not have
overheard, aside from messages delivered by Patronus, are the argument
in the forest and the events on the tower in HBP.

Who better to inform, say, Lupin that he's mistaken about Snape in
Harry's hearing? And even if Harry rejects Phineas's words, Lupin
might start thinking about, oh, say, the DADA curse. . . .

At any rate, surely Harry learning about Snape's true loyalties is
more important than McGonagall (whose specialty is Transfiguration,
not DADA) learning about Horcruxes, and who better to inform him than
Witness!Phineas?

Carol, who has only posted three times today after all (make that four
now) and still hates the new Yahoo set-up